Improvement in india-rubber sword-handles



UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE..V

IMPROVEMENT IN INDIA-RUBBER SWORD-HANDLES.

Specification forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 35,292, dated May 20,1862. i

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MATTHEW C. BOGIA, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Handles of Swords andother Like Weapons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to vtheaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in combining a tube of gum-elastic with the shankof a sword, dagger, or other like weapon, substantially as describedhereinafter, for the threefold purpose of affording a `rm grip for thehand with but little exertion of the fingers, thumb, and palm;preventing the abrasion of the skin, and avoiding 'that stunning andstraining of the hand which results from the repeatedblows and shocks towhich cavalry-swords especially are subjected.v t

`In order to enable others to make my invention, I will now proceed todescribe the manner in which it is constructed and applied.

On reference to the accompanying drai fings, which form a part of thisspeciiication,`

Figure l is an exterior view, and Fig. 2 a sectional view, of myimproved handle as applied to a dagger; Fig. 3, my improvement asapplied to the handle of an ordinary cavalrysword.

`On referenceto Figs. l and 2, A represents the blade of a dagger; B,the `cross-bar or guard between the handle and the blade, andv C theshank which passes through the handle D, the latter consisting of agunrelastic tube,

which is confined to its place by means of a washer, E, forming the topof the handle, the upper end of the shank being riveted to this washer,as seen in Fig. 3. y

In fitting the gum-elastic tube to the shank the hole in the formershould be considerably less than the shank, which must be forced intothe tube, so as to be gripped tightly thereby. The tube, in fact, may bemade to fit so tightly to the shank that it will retain its placewithout the aid of the washer E, which, together with the ferrule F, isused in ythe present instance more as a finish tothe handle than forabsolute necessity.

i On reference to Fig.3, A is the blade, B

the guard, and D the handle," of a cavalrysword, the handle in this casealso consist-ing of a gum-elastic tube fitting tightly over the shank ofthe blade and confined between the upper and lower portion of the guard.V

It will be evident, without further descriptions or illustrations, thatgum-elastic tubes of various forms may be applied to thc Shanks ofswords, daggers, the., tosuit the taste of themanufacturer, and thatthey may be applied either directly to the shanks, or, if less of thegum-elastic be required, a body of wood or othersuitable material mayintervene between the shank and the gum-elastic. The desirability of soconstructingthe handles of swords and other like weapons that they canbe graspedv tightly in the hand and not easily forced therefrom by theexertions of an opponent is so well understood that it is usual toroughen the surfaces of the handles or to cover them with leather,shark-skin, and other materials which will partially resist the tendency of the han dleto slip in or from the hand.

Gum-elastic having a less tendency than most materials to slip over thesurface of the skin, its applicability to the handles of swords andother like weapons willv beapparent. A sword with a gum-elastic handlecan be held with a much firmer grip than one with a handle composed ofthe usual rigid materials, and this with less exertion as regards theuse of the fingers, thumb, and palm of the hand.

Another advantage of my improved swordhandle is that it will yieldslightly to the pressure of the hand; hence the weapon can be used for alength of time without that abrasion of the skin which a rigid handle isapt to cause.

My improved handle is of especial advantage on cavalry-swords, which inengagements are subjected to severe blows and jars, the gum-elasticbeing of such a nature as to absorb the shocks which, when imparted toswords with rigid handles, tend to stun land strain the hand and renderit in amore or less inefficient condition for a proper mantions ofgum-elastic, excepting that which is known as hard rubber, may beapplied to Swords, 85e., in the manner described above.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-Combining a lcube of gum-elastic with lche shank of L sword, dagger, orother like weapon, substantially in the manner and for the purposeherein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATTHEV C. BOGIA.

i 1'Tiriessfes:

HENRY HoWsoN, JOHN WHITE.

